Smoking and vaping containment apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pipe that captures smoke or vape emissions in a containment vessel or bag with a controllable valve. A material chamber is used to carry loose combustible smoking material or vapor producing materials (vape). A two way valve on the containment vessel allows the user total control of the dispersion of smoke or vape and allows the bag to be separated without leaks. A one way valve in line with the material chamber prevents ash or embers of smoking material from exiting through the material chamber when the user exhales.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/694,257, filed Jul. 5, 2018, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to smoking and vaping apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for containing the smoke or vapors produced during use of these apparatus.

Smoking materials and vapor producing liquids produce smoke or vapors. For the smoker, this is a desirable result. However, for those that are not participating in the activity, it may be an undesirable, or even offensive result.

While other smoke and vapor containment systems exist, many are overly complicated, while others do not automatically control a back flow through a smoking chamber, which can disperse ash and embers on the smoker or surroundings.

As can be seen there is a need for an improved smoking and vape containment apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention a vapor containment apparatus, is disclosed. The vapor containment apparatus includes a housing defining an interior chamber. A material chamber is positioned at a top end of the housing for containment of a vapor producing material. A one way valve is positioned between the material chamber and the interior chamber. The one way valve is operable to permit an airflow into the interior chamber and to restrict an airflow out of the interior chamber. A mouthpiece is coupled to a first end of the housing and is mouthpiece configured for bidirectional airflow with the interior chamber. A two way valve is coupled to a second end of the housing. An extensible containment reservoir is coupled to the two way valve. The two way valve is operable to allow passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir and to block passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir.

In some embodiments, a lid is provided to selectively open the housing. A seal may be interposed between the housing and the lid. The extensible containment reservoir is a bag. In some embodiments, a grommet seals the mouthpiece to the housing.

In other aspects of the invention, a vapor containment apparatus, includes a housing defining an interior chamber. A material chamber is positioned at a top end of the housing for containment of a smoking material. A one way valve is positioned in a fluid path between the material chamber and the interior chamber. The one way valve is operable to permit an airflow into the interior chamber. A mouthpiece is coupled to a first end of the housing and is configured for bidirectional airflow with the interior chamber. An extensible containment reservoir is coupled the housing configured to selectively receive the airflow from the interior chamber.

In some embodiments, a two way valve is interposed between the extensible containment reservoir and the interior chamber. The two way valve is selectively operable to allow passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir. The two way valve is also operable to block passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir.

A lid may be provided to selectively open the housing and a seal may be interposed between the lid and the housing.

In yet other aspects of the invention, a vapor containment apparatus, includes a housing having an interior chamber. A material chamber is in one way fluid communication through the material chamber to the interior chamber. An extensible containment reservoir is coupled to the housing and is configured to selectively receive a vapor flow from within the interior chamber. A mouthpiece is configured for bidirectional fluid communication with the interior chamber, wherein a volume of the vapor flow drawn through the material chamber and the mouthpiece is selectively emitted into the extensible containment reservoir.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vapor containment apparatus with lid 12 closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vapor containment apparatus with lid 12 open;

FIG. 3 is a section view of the vapor containment apparatus, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1, illustrating the movement of smoke when valve 26 is closed and the smoke is inhaled (with hinges 14 not shown for clarity);

FIG. 4 is a section view of the vapor containment apparatus, illustrating the movement of smoke when valve 26 is open and the smoke is exhaled;

FIG. 5 is an partial exploded view of the vapor containment apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the vapor containment apparatus in a typical use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides an improved pipe, that allows smoke and vapors to be contained and saved in a chamber and expelled when the smoker desires, at the control of the smoker. This helps to reduce the smell and limit the amount of smoke released in the air. The invention claimed here is an improvement that helps better solve this problem.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-5, the invention is a pipe that has a material chamber in which to place a quantity of a smokable material and allows the user, without moving their mouth away from the apparatus, and using the same mouth piece, to breathe out and expel the smoke or vape into a bag. The apparatus includes a 2 way valve that is selectively positioned to contain the smoke in the bag. The material holder has a one way valve that prevents the user from accidentally blowing the material out without complicated switches and unnecessary valves such as the other patents that use bags to catch smoke. This further allows the user to discharge the smoke at the user's discretion with the additional option of removing the bag (without leaking) since the bag has its own 2 way valve attached to the bag itself.

An embodiment of the smoking apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawings of FIGS. 1-5 showing the following elements: A box or pipe which is the body 10 of the device to which the other parts are attached. The body 10 can be made of plastic, metal, glass, or wood. Preferably, the body 10 is dimensioned so that it may generally be hand held. The body 10 has a lid 12 that is connected to the body via one or more hinges 14. A seal 15 is disposed between the lid 12 and the body 10. A mouthpiece 20, usually a plastic or a metal tube with a rubber piece size, connects an interior cavity of the body with the exterior of the body 10.

A material chamber 16, which may be glass, or metal, for containment and ignition of a smoking material 34 that is positioned on top of the body 10. An optional cap may be placed on the material chamber 16 to further snuff out the unwanted smoke from the lit smoking material 34.

A one way breathing valve 18 that is positioned under the material chamber 16 inside the body 10. The one way breathing valve 18 is in fluid communication with an orifice in the bottom of the material chamber 16. It may be formed as a round plastic one way valve.

A two way valve 26, which may be formed of metal or plastic. The two way valve 26 has a selector that may have a plurality of grooves on both ends. The two way valve 26 may connect the two way valve 26 to the body 10. The two way valve 26 is operable via a valve handle 28.

An extensible containment vessel 30, may for example be a 1 gallon plastic bag with a connector 32, formed as a plastic or a metal grommet 22 that releasably connects to the two way valve 26. The containment vessel 30 is attached to a neck 32 coupled to the body 10. A smoke/vapor path 36 is also shown in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The mouth piece 20 is attached to the front of the body 10 through which the user may inhale and exhale. The body 10 of the pipe is used to contain or interconnect the other pieces. The material chamber 16 is positioned on top of the box or pipe and may be either screwed into or coupled, such as by a grommets 21 to keep an air tight seal.

The smoking material 34 in the material chamber 16 is ignited by the user. The one way valve 18 may be positioned subjacent to the material chamber 16. Since the user has to exhale, the one way valve 18 prevents smoke able material from exiting the body 10 through the material chamber 16. The 2 way valve 26 is attached to the body 10 on an opposite end from the mouth piece 20. The exhaled smoke 36 and is trapped in the containment chamber 30 when the 2 way valve 26 is turned to the closed position. The containment chamber 30 is attached with a connector 32 to keep the bag airtight and connected to the 2 way valve 26.

There are presently no pipes that have a 2 way valve on a separate attached bag 30 or a loose material chamber 16 with a one way accident proof valve 18. The one way valve 18, allows the smoke to be drawn in through the material chamber 16 and precludes air or smoke 36 from being expelled through the material chamber 16. The one way valve 18, in line with the material chamber 16, also prevents users from accidentally exhaling through the material chamber 16 and dispersing ash or live embers on themselves or surroundings. A screen 19 may be provided interposed between the material chamber 16 and the one way valve 18.

The body 10 of the pipe itself also has the ability to flip open or open up in order to clean ashes or resin that might build up in the pipe. It also has a simplicity in design. There are no fans, complex filters, springs, and motors required, allowing the device to be lightweight and portable.

Positioning of the material chamber 16 on top of the pipe, allows the user to control and see the lit material 34 to allow the user even more control. Since the material chamber 16 sits on top of the apparatus, the user can put a cap on top to further snuff out the material 34 and prevent it from continuously burning, making it safer than having a lit cigarette located in the pipe itself. The two way valve 26 on the containment vessel 30 and pipe allows precise directional control of the smoke or vape 36, as opposed to having a lit cigarette carried inside a chamber in a constantly lit and extra unwanted smoke or vapor from the lit part accidentally being inhaled by the user.

The valves 18, 26 of the present invention also have a secondary use that permits the user to recycle or reuse the existing smoke or vape captured within the containment vessel 30, thereby further conserving smoking material 34. Either one user or another person can inhale the existing captured smoke or vapor from within the containment vessel 30, without the need for the smoking material 34 to be in a burning condition in the material chamber 16.

As shown in reference to FIG. 6, the smoking apparatus of the present invention may be used in the following process steps.

Step 1 user puts material in material chamber;

Step 2 user puts mouth on mouth piece;

Step 3 keeping 2 way valve closed until ready to exhale;

Step 4 user lights material in material chamber and inhales material smoke;

Step 5 user flips the 2 way selector valve to open and exhales smoke or vape into bag;

Step 6 bag 2 way valve is closed when done exhaling all of the smoke or vape; and

Step 7 bag and two way valve can remain attached to the body or can be separated while containing the exhaled smoke and smoke is then released at user's discretion.

A non-limiting example embodiment of the present invention may be made with a plastic tube for the mouthpiece 20 attached to a hole in the body 10 and kept in place with rubber grommets 21. The body 10 can be a rectangular box with latches and is dimensioned so that it can be held in one hand with optional hand straps. The material chamber 16 is secured on top of body 10. Beneath the material chamber 16, a one way valve 18 may be formed by either a piece of cut rubber touching the bottom of material chamber's 16 opposite end or a circular plastic one way valve 18.

The 2 way valve 26 is a valve with a selector switch 28, or lever, that attaches to the end of the body 10 with a hole. The valves 18, 26 may be sized and kept in place by screwing a nut 24 or grommet 21 that is placed on the inside of the body 10 to retain the valves 18, 26 in place. The containment vessel 30 is placed on the other side of the two way valve 26 to contain the smoke.

The present invention can thus be use to minimize indoor smoke when it is exhaled. The user can remove the bag and blow it directly out the window without having a window fully open. The invention can also be used to recycle vape to another person by allowing another person to inhale the bag.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vapor containment apparatus, comprising: a housing having an interior chamber; a material chamber positioned at a top end of the housing for containment of a vapor producing material; a one way valve positioned between the material chamber and the interior chamber, the one way valve operable to permit an airflow into the interior chamber and restrict an airflow out of the interior chamber; a mouthpiece coupled to a first end of the housing, the mouthpiece configured for bidirectional airflow with the interior chamber; a two way valve coupled to a second end of the housing; and an extensible containment reservoir coupled to the two way valve, wherein the two way valve operable to allow passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir and to block passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir.
 2. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a lid to selectively open the housing.
 3. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a seal interposed between the housing and the lid.
 4. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extensible containment reservoir is a bag.
 5. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a grommet to seal the mouthpiece to the housing.
 6. A vapor containment apparatus, comprising: a housing defining an interior chamber; a material chamber positioned at a top end of the housing for containment of a smoking material; a one way valve positioned in a fluid path between the material chamber and the interior chamber, the one way valve operable to permit an airflow into the interior chamber; a mouthpiece coupled to a first end of the housing, the mouthpiece configured for bidirectional airflow with the interior chamber; and an extensible containment reservoir coupled the housing configured to selectively receive the airflow from the interior chamber.
 7. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a two way valve interposed between the extensible containment reservoir and the interior chamber, the two way valve selectively operable to allow passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir.
 8. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two way valve is operable to block passage of the airflow with the interior chamber and the extensible containment reservoir.
 9. The vapor containment apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a lid to selectively open the housing; and a seal interposed between the lid and the housing.
 10. A vapor containment apparatus, comprising: a housing having an interior chamber; a material chamber in one way fluid communication through the material chamber to the interior chamber; an extensible containment reservoir coupled to the housing and configured to selectively receive a vapor flow from within the interior chamber; and a mouthpiece configured for bidirectional fluid communication with the interior chamber, wherein a volume of the vapor flow drawn through the material chamber and the mouthpiece is selectively emitted into the extensible containment reservoir. 